Dinner Rolls

If you have known me long, you know bread and pie crusts have been my challenge in the kitchen.  I finally found a pie crust that usually works for me, and now, as the beautiful music plays above my head, I have found a bread recipe that I can actually use to make beautiful, soft rolls!  :)  I cannot believe these things actually came from my oven.  My husband didn't even believe it; he kept saying I bought them at the store!  ;)  I cannot remember which recipe site this recipe came from.  I wrote it down a while back, and I guess I didn't think it would actually work.   I'll do an update at the bottom if I can find it again.  It certainly deserves credit!

Don't look too closely.  I forgot to put the eggs in the picture!

Ingredients:

4 1/2 t active dry yeast
1/2 c warm water (110-115 degrees)
2 c warm milk (110-115 degrees)
6 T shortening 
2 eggs
1/4 c sugar
1 1/2 t salt
7- 7 1/2 c flour

1.  In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water.  Add the milk, shortening, eggs, sugar, salt, and 3 cups flour.  Beat until smooth.  Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough.

2.  Turn onto a floured surface, knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes (dough will be very sticky).  Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top.

Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.

3.  Punch dough down. 

Turn onto a lightly floured or oiled surface.

Divide into 24 pieces.

I divided each fourth into six pieces.

Shape each into a roll.  Place 2 inches apart on greased baking sheets.

Cover and let them rise until doubled, about 30 minutes.

This picture doesn't really show how much the rolls had risen.
Oh, well.  There's always next time.  :)

4.  Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.  Remove to wire racks. 

Yields 2 dozen

I hope you try them and let me know how they work for you.  Mine came out perfectly soft on the inside, but they weren't so great the next day.  They were a little too dry and crumbly.  I think the next time, for the rolls our family will not use right away, I will slightly under bake and freeze.

Until we meet again, may you be blessed!

*Update:  I found it!  This is the link for the recipe on the Taste of Home website.  It wasn't the original recipe of whoever posted it, either.  :)  http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/pillow-soft-dinner-rolls  .  Happy baking!